The upcoming Democratic primary campaign

J

Josiah

Senior Member
Location
50 miles east of Cincinnati, OH
Bernie is an almost perfect opponent for Hillary at this point, and I expect her people and those at the DNC share that view. He's a smart, articulate, direct, proponent for an openly liberal approach to national governance. He will push her hard on the issues, especially economic justice and what he calls the "grotesque" level of current income inequality, but he won't play political games or spend one minute spinning the horserace or leaking damaging stories. He'll be an effective advocate for a core Democratic political vision articulated from the left, which they will discuss and debate. She'll position herself somewhat to his right, which will help for the general election, but she can publicly agree with him quite a bit, which the Democratic voters will like. The nomination doesn't really seem in doubt, but it will be good for Hillary to have a contest on the way.
Meanwhile, the contrast between the two parties' races will work to her advantage. The numerous Republican candidates will pander and posture for that last remaining fraction of the hard right, edging desperately further and further out to the fringe and pledging to be more bellicose abroad and more ruthless in enforcing abortion restrictions and taking away people's health insurance, while Hillary and Bernie (and Gov. O'Malley, no policy slouch either) have a substantive debate over things like the minimum wage, paid time off, repairing our roads and bridges, and how to bring back good middle class jobs -- issues that matter to most voters.
After a few months of this, many voters will start to realize that they are actually Democrats -- and that they'd better get out and vote this time.
 

One thing I am certain he will NOT do... and that will be to bash Hillary. Bernie has never run that sort of campaign, but prefers to run on the issues. So it will be a refreshing change from what is going to go on, on the Republican side, all negative and no ideas.

I agree with you.. once the American people actually hear a debate with Bernie Sanders, I will bet that they WILL realize they are Democrats and will finally vote that way, especially when it is contrasted against the nonsense that will be spouted by the Republican field.
 
I always thought I was a Democrat until became totally fed up with the ineffectual whiners & gimme artists on local, state & national level. Withdrew my registration when the state party elected the most corrupt shyster in the state as chair.
A newly elected Dem congresswoman from here I thought was going to be honest & a breath of fresh air just ruined it by taking $ from a foreign country to visit a former SSR on a "trade mission" where there are no realistic trade opportunities-took her boyfriend along at mostly taxpayer expense, accepted a very expensive carpet as a gift, & didn't report its value because she "didn't like the design".
i still can't figure out exactly what Hillary has accomplished.
So what I am is a disgusted Independent. Tired of voting for the "lesser of the evils."
 

Geezerette said:
I always thought I was a Democrat until became totally fed up with the ineffectual whiners & gimme artists on local, state & national level. Withdrew my registration when the state party elected the most corrupt shyster in the state as chair.
A newly elected Dem congresswoman from here I thought was going to be honest & a breath of fresh air just ruined it by taking $ from a foreign country to visit a former SSR on a "trade mission" where there are no realistic trade opportunities-took her boyfriend along at mostly taxpayer expense, accepted a very expensive carpet as a gift, & didn't report its value because she "didn't like the design".
i still can't figure out exactly what Hillary has accomplished.
So what I am is a disgusted Independent. Tired of voting for the "lesser of the evils."
Click to expand...

If you expect a "perfect" candidate from either party, it ain't gonna happen. You need to decide philosophically what ISSUES are important to you and vote the candidate and party best suited based upon that.
 
2016 is shaping up to be another "Hold Your Nose" election. There aren't any announced candidates, yet, that inspire much in the way of confidence. One thing will probably hold true again...the one who spends the most money, and has the most outrageous attack ads will probably win. As the election nears, follow the money as reported on sites such as OpenSecrets.org, and see which candidate the Las Vegas odds makers are favoring.
 
I'm definately not voting for ANYONE who

1. Wants to privatize Medicare and Social Security

2. Wants to increase the retirement age

3. Thinks chained CPI is a great idea

4. Will not increase the minimum wage

5. Wants to repeal the ACA and take healthcare away from millions..
a. Go back to the old private insurance model
b Allow denial for pre-existing conditions
c. bring back the lifetime cap on benefits

6. Thinks a regressive flat tax is just a WONDERFUL idea..

7. wants to do away with funding for public education

8. refuses to consider lowering interest rates on student loans

9 votes against benefits for veterans..

10. continues to give tax breaks to the wealthy


Figure out which party I will NEVER vote for?
 
With the current campaign finance laws which put no limits on anonymous donors, there is no way a candidate can be elected to the office of President without relying on mega-donors. So you can't blame a serious candidate for playing the money game.....that's the only way the game is played today. I support Hillary Clinton. I'm not happy with her coziness with big money donors, but I understand that there is precisely no alternative. What would you Don and Geezerette like to see in a candidate?
 
AZ Jim said:
If you expect a "perfect" candidate from either party, it ain't gonna happen. You need to decide philosophically what ISSUES are important to you and vote the candidate and party best suited based upon that.
Click to expand...


You mean like we did with Obama? Not going through that again.
 
AZ Jim: Can't even trust candidate stances on issues these days with so many being revealed as liars, thieves & other types of criminals.
 
What would you Don and Geezerette like to see in a candidate?[/QUOTE]

I would like to see a candidate that had the following priorities....

1. Overturn Citizens United, and ban ALL private donations to political campaigns....financing them, instead, with a fixed amount of tax dollars.
2. Abandon this farce of Obamacare, and begin working seriously on a SP-UHC plan, like the rest of the civilized world uses.
3. Raise taxes enough to pay off this ridiculous National Debt...similar to what our nation did in the years following WWII.
4. Raise the corporate taxes on companies that offshore their manufacturing, and lower it substantially for companies that bring good jobs back here.

There are probably other issues that need some serious attention from Washington, but these 4 would go a long way towards restoring some Sanity to the way we are being governed. However, given the partisanship that exists in Washington...and among many of our people...I probably shouldn't hold my breath.
 
Josiah said:
Bernie is an almost perfect opponent for Hillary at this point, and I expect her people and those at the DNC share that view. He's a smart, articulate, direct, proponent for an openly liberal approach to national governance. He will push her hard on the issues, especially economic justice and what he calls the "grotesque" level of current income inequality, but he won't play political games or spend one minute spinning the horserace or leaking damaging stories. He'll be an effective advocate for a core Democratic political vision articulated from the left, which they will discuss and debate. She'll position herself somewhat to his right, which will help for the general election, but she can publicly agree with him quite a bit, which the Democratic voters will like. The nomination doesn't really seem in doubt, but it will be good for Hillary to have a contest on the way.
Meanwhile, the contrast between the two parties' races will work to her advantage. The numerous Republican candidates will pander and posture for that last remaining fraction of the hard right, edging desperately further and further out to the fringe and pledging to be more bellicose abroad and more ruthless in enforcing abortion restrictions and taking away people's health insurance, while Hillary and Bernie (and Gov. O'Malley, no policy slouch either) have a substantive debate over things like the minimum wage, paid time off, repairing our roads and bridges, and how to bring back good middle class jobs -- issues that matter to most voters.
After a few months of this, many voters will start to realize that they are actually Democrats -- and that they'd better get out and vote this time.
Click to expand...

A good summery, Josiah, I hope that more people will be aware of the contrast of the two parties and vote accordingly.

Like QS, I would never even consider voting Republican.

As for Hillary's accomplishments, there are many, but to me the most admiral is her fight for women and children's issues.

http://correctrecord.org/the-points...res-hillary-clintons-achievements-as-senator/
 
Don, I feel you are being unrealistic in your expectations. I'm sure Obama shares your feelings about the advantages of a single payer health care system, but judged that goal as totally unreachable in the current political and commercial environment. That he was able to bring into existence the ACA which increases significantly the number of people with health insurance is viewed by me and many other people who share your preference for a single payer system as a remarkable accomplishment. And I think even you will admit that with the amount of Republican opposition, it wasn't easy.
Given our constitution the next President can not just overturn Citizens United much as he or she would like to. It may take a constitutional amendment or at the very least the appointment of several new Justices which if a Republican wins in 2016 will certainly enshrine CU as established law. So Don I really think you have judge the current candidates on what they might realistically get or not get accomplished. Using this measure there's a remarkable difference between the candidates. Remember which judges voted for Citizens United, they were all appointed by Republican presidents.
 
QuickSilver said:
I'm definately not voting for ANYONE who

1. Wants to privatize Medicare and Social Security

2. Wants to increase the retirement age

3. Thinks chained CPI is a great idea

4. Will not increase the minimum wage

5. Wants to repeal the ACA and take healthcare away from millions..
a. Go back to the old private insurance model
b Allow denial for pre-existing conditions
c. bring back the lifetime cap on benefits

6. Thinks a regressive flat tax is just a WONDERFUL idea..

7. wants to do away with funding for public education

8. refuses to consider lowering interest rates on student loans

9 votes against benefits for veterans..

10. continues to give tax breaks to the wealthy


Figure out which party I will NEVER vote for?
Click to expand...
The same one I'll never vote for and for all the same reasons that you so cogently cited, QS. You have no idea how refreshing it is to be in the midst of a group whose ideas and values mirror mine. Right now I live in an area that is probably about 80% GOP (trending hard right). It's kind of off-putting to go to a community function where all the folks are castigating anything or anyone not buying into their hate speech. Many eons ago when I decided to join a political party, I went to the library at the college I was attending and read what each party said it stood for in terms of values, ideals, and goals for the future. I chose a party based on how closely enmeshed my own ideas and hopes were to those of that party. I didn't select a party based on my family's affiliation, my friends' affiliation, etc. My choice has served me well for over 50 years of voting.

I believe the major flaw in our entire political apparatus are the graft-ridden, completely corrupt campaign finance laws. They cause so much damage now, they can't slide any lower or we'll end up being led by potentates with life-long terms, vast harems, and hordes of eunuchs.
 

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